Holy Hephaestus, it's been over a year?! There are not enough words in the English language (and maybe some others) to express how sorry I am this took so long. And it's not even a satisfying chapter! But due to how long it's taken me to actually get back to writing anything (this included) I figured better post something instead of nothing at all to the few who may still be interested in this story. Anyway, enough from me, read on and enjoy and leave me a comment, even if you just want to chew me out for taking so long!

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine. If it were, I'd find a way to make a PJO movie reboot that wasn't the worst thing ever.

It's been a week and Annabeth is still fumbling around.

It doesn't help that her steps falter every time she remembers her encounter with a boy that radiated charm and kindness.

She hasn't bumped into Percy Jackson since their first encounter. She hasn't stopped thinking about it either.

It was a jarring experience that left her more vulnerable than she'd care to admit. He was a stranger, yet she found herself spilling her guts to him in prose. She felt unsettled and exposed.

It was an exhilarating change.

She couldn't wait to meet him again.

Now if only she could figure out her way around the center efficiently enough to get to the front desk and ask about him…

"Annabeth, dear, there you are! No, left- wait, no, stop walki- Yeah, okay, now walk straight ahead- CHAIR! – Hold on, I've got you- ROSIE, I FOUND HER!"

Annabeth's shoulders slumped as she stood still and waited for Jenna to take her by the arm and lead her… somewhere, listening politely.

"There's someone here to see you. I'm sure you remember Percy Jackson from last week? Charming boy, hard to forget him."

Annabeth could feel her heart do cartwheels. Was that a blush she felt on her neck?

"Well, his mother's here and would like to meet you."

Annabeth's heart slipped up and fell over some edge to land in her stomach, sinking heavily with disappointment.

His mother…?

Jenna came to a stop soon enough and let Annabeth's hand go, the latter feeling the shift in the air around her that indicated Jenna had taken a step away too. Or so Annabeth though; she was still trying to figure out how to feel her way through the world.

"Annabeth, this is Sally Jackson," Annabeth felt a hand, soft and gentle in its touch – like it was used to this and knew how to approach blind kids without startling them. Knowing what she did about Percy, she figured that wasn't too far from the truth. Sally Jackson probably spent all her life in places like this.

"Um. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Jackson."

"Oh, please, just call me Sally. I'm so glad to meet you. Percy has been talking about you all week. That's actually why I'm here today."

There it was again, the burn of a blush, rising – as heat does – along Annabeth's neck towards her cheeks. At least she couldn't see – and was therefore spared the embarrassment of – Rosie and Jenna's smirks that she was so sure were there.

"I'm not sure I understand Mrs- err, Sally…"

"Well, Percy has dealt and adapted to his life without his eyes, so he doesn't really need help very often from the center, though he likes to stop by every so often. But after his latest visit last week… well, let's just say it's been quite hard to keep him on track long enough to get his other tasks done. An even more impressive feat when one realizes the boy's ADHD."

Annabeth was still not following, but she remained silent to let Sally get her point across.

"What I'm trying to say, dear, is that he would like to spend some more time with you at his favorite place in the world if you'll agree to leave here with me."

Annabeth was sure she looked stupid with her mouth wide open in shock. Her eyes had widened too out of habit, the thought making her inexplicably sad. She never appreciated the little subconscious things enough.

"Sally, that sounds- I mean, I enjoyed talking to Percy but I don't really know him well enough for him to want to share that with me…"

"You've made quite the impression, dear. What do you say? Rosie has contacted your father and I spoke to him. He's said it was fine by him if you wanted to go and to be back at a reasonable hour."

She didn't understand it, but she found herself intrigued and accepting. She smiled shyly at the happy squeeze Sally gave her arm as she easily lead her out of the center and helped her into a car.

Fleetingly, she thought about how mildly dodgy this all was and how she might be driving to her doom.

Then Sally started talking to her, and it was so easy and normal, wanting to know what Annabeth liked and disliked, from trivial things like favorite color to greatest ambition in life. Annabeth almost cried because there was not an ounce of pity for her in Sally's voice because Sally treated her like any other kid, so unlike everyone else treating her like a freaky doll that had two heads and half an arm.

It was the first time that Annabeth felt like herself in so long, second only to her encounter with Sally's own son, Percy.

She saw where Percy got it from.

Before she knew it, Annabeth found herself hearing the faint sound of waves and seagulls over the noise of traffic. Fumbling a little, she managed to feel around and find the button that lowered the window. She inhaled deeply and instinctively closed her eyes as she took in the smell of the ocean. Her head leaned back against the headrest and lolled to the side, seeking out the breeze coming from the water, carrying with it a salty spray that reminds her of summers in the sun. Relaxing, she thinks up images of the ocean from memory.

"We're at Montauk. Percy practically grew up here; the ocean helped him connect with his father in a way."

She feels the car stop, hears Sally step out of the car and come to her side to help her out. She struggles to make her way through sand without losing her footing, but Sally's warm and strong grip on her arm helps her make the trek.

Before long, Sally is slowing them to a stop and she hears a voice she's only heard in her head for the past week.

"Mom?"

"Behind you, Percy."

Annabeth is confused because she's sure Sally hasn't left her; her soft fingers on her wrist evidence of that. And walking in sand is a quiet affair. So how did Percy know they were there?

"And Annabeth?"

There it was again, the feeling of a blush creeping up along her neck, but she makes her presence known anyway, "Hi, Percy. It's nice to, err- talk to you again."

She doesn't know how, but there's a feeling deep inside her that tells her he's smiling.

Sally leads her another few steps before saying that she should sit down, Annabeth complying if a little confused. She feels a blanket, and reaches out a little to feel something else; wicker, she notes, and shaped like a box – a basket perhaps?

It takes no time at all before she feels Percy take a seat next to her, again making her wonder how he knew where she was and avoided stepping on her.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it. Percy, dear, Annabeth needs to be back home by a reasonable hour, so don't keep her too long, alright?"

"Got it, Mom. Thanks."

It's quiet for a few moments before Annabeth feels a cylinder against her hand.

A can.

"It's Coke."

"Oh."

His awkwardness is almost tangible when he tries to backtrack. It makes Annabeth feel warm inside.

"I mean, if you wanted- I don't know, do you even like Coke? I'm sorry, I shouldn't just assume- I think Mom got some juice too…"

He stops when she laughs softly, feeling around slightly before taking hold of what she assumes is his wrist.

"Coke is good, Percy, thank you. And, um, thanks for sharing this place with me; you're mom said it's important to you."

From what she's learned about Percy's physical appearance, and the few remarks she's heard here and there about his quirks and habits, Annabeth likes to picture him rubbing the back of his neck slowly when he's flustered or embarrassed; like if he rubs enough he'll scrub away the growing redness along his neck.

She wishes it did work like that because her own blushing problem has gotten out of control since she's met Percy.

Regardless, it takes him a few more moments before he's speaking, and Annabeth keeps her mouth shut to let him get his thoughts across undeterred.

"I know a lot of people, made some great friends. I've even brought some of them up here when I felt like they needed an escape and a comfort. And while this spot, this beach, is all of that for me too, it's been quite a few years since I've come here with the express purpose of comfort. It was just a serene place to be at with my mother, to take a break from the noise of Manhattan – until I met you."

She hesitates, not sure if she should speak yet, though Percy doesn't let her dwell too long as he keeps talking.

"I have so many questions now, things I stopped thinking about ages ago; what colors were, what fruits looked like, what gross things were shaped as- my mind is racing."

"Percy, I don't-"

"I just want to know what the world looks like, Annabeth. Nobody's captured it for me like you have. Please?"

She hesitates because this hurts. Reminiscing about something she'll never have again-

But, she supposes, it must be infinitely more painful for Percy. At least she has an idea, would know what her favorite place in the world looks like, can access that memory and those images for comfort. She can't imagine what her life would have been like if she were born blind like Percy; the curiosity would be unbearable.

"Percy, I don't want you to get hurt… knowing about things but never really having access to them can be- difficult, to say the least."

"It's not more difficult than not knowing at all."

She sighs, soft and sad, before she agrees with a soft squeeze to the wrist she still hasn't let go of.

"Alright. Where should I start?"

His reply is instant, like he'd known all along that she'd agree, and has had questions and topics prepared.

"The ocean. The beach. Sunsets and sunrises. What the view is right now."